by Darrel Cline (darrelcline biblical-thinking.org)
Chapter # 1 Paragraph # 1 Study # 4 January 10, 2024 Broadlands, Louisiana (Download Audio)
I. The Introduction.
A. According to the general scholarship, this book was the second of Paul's letters, following Galatians, written about A.D. 51, though there is some debate because of a difference of opinion as to where the Galatian letter was sent.
B. In any case, the general thrust of the Thessalonian letters has to do with the "hope" that believers are to live under.
C. Paul's identification of himself, Silvanus, and Timothy and those who sent this letter to the Thessalonians.
1. This, because of 2 Timothy 2:2; 3:17, and Galatians 6:11, is not an unimportant detail.
2. The identifying names and their significance. The underlying assumption of the following conclusions: the deliberate alteration of the names of Saul of Tarsus and Silas of Luke's writings must have some rationale and significance.
a. "Paul". My conclusion regarding Paul's "self-identification" is that the name signifies Paul's desire to distance himself from the arrogance of King Saul, his namesake, to focus upon the foundational attitude of "humility" that was a chief characteristic of this apostle, along with his focus upon ministry to the Gentiles and his willingness to go to some lengths to identify with them (1 Corinthians 9:22).
b. "Silvanus". If "Paul" represents the basic characteristic of "humility", Silvanus comes across as a representative of "faith" (bygift, a mouth-piece of the words of God, and, by practice, an example of those whose "faith" goes beyond mere subscription to those "words" of God).
c. "Timothy".
1) Became an understudy of Paul in Acts 16:1-3.
a) The probable reason for this is recorded in Acts 15:38 where "John, calledMark" (15:37) is described by Paul as one who "had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work" (rooted in Acts 13:13, where the "deserter" is called "John", not "Mark").
i. It is this text (13:13) that is directly tied to the shift in Paul's identity from Saul to Paul (13:9).
ii. It is also significant that Mark's name was "John" (by the word order in Acts 15:37).
iii. There is, then, this possibility: Paul rejected "John" because he was not "living up to his name", BUT Paul was not exactly being "gracious" himself, perhaps in a reversion to the pride of "Saul"; this being one of the "problems" of people working with one another when it is the Gospel that is at stake.
b) Timothy, somewhat like "John Mark" also seems to have had a touch of the underlying timidity that caused the desertion in Pamphylia.
i. In 2 Timothy 1:5-7 Paul indicates that he has perceived a certain withdrawal from the work, not unlike "John".
i) There is no reason for the summons to "kindle afresh the gift of God" unless the ashes of the earlier fire are beginning to smother the flames of the present.
ii) Paul's rationale for such a summons is given: "...for God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline".
ii. But "Timothy's name" remains the same (Acts 16:1) as does Paul's focus upon removing all stumbling blocks to faith in the Gospel's message (Acts 16:3).
iii. Interestingly, it is in 2 Timothy 4:9-11 that Paul tells Timothy to "pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service": maybe this is a record of Paul's own progress in sanctification as he is now a more temperate "mentor".
2) "Timothy", by derivation of the words of his name, means "honor God", which can have two possible meanings: "one who honors God" or "one who is honored by God".
a) Following the initial assumption of Paul's reason for identifying himself, Silvanus, and Timothy as characterizations of what is required for a person to serve God, my assumption is that Paul reflects humility, Silvanus reflects faith, and Timothy reflects the desire to honor God.
b) With this "threesome", Paul began his letter to the Thessalonians.